I
decided to take a slight vacation from writing about the JW's and write a story
based on the Bible. Many stories in the Bible are written in just a few words
with the details left to our imagination. I have taken one such story and
filled in the details which may or may not have taken place. Why "Between
the Lines"? Because what I add to Holy Scripture can only be found in the
"white space" of your Bible--"Between the Lines."
My name is Zuriel and my story begins and ends with one night when I had just turned ten. Even though it was my birthday it would be a day of hard toil and in the end--MY SALVATION.
My grandparents had been taken prisoners by Nebuchadnezzar in the Babylonian Captivity and I was born in the great city
On this night of nights I was to be sure that the waterpots did not run low. They were used to fill washbasins for the arriving guests. Some 1,000 nobles were expected to take part in this feast in the Great Hall while another 1,000 were expected in the Queen’s Hall. The Queen’s Hall was to entertain high military officers along with the elite palace and city guards. With 2,000 guests, their requirement for water would keep me busy for most of the night. It struck me as bizarre that this feast was taking place when the Medo-Persian army was laying siege to Babylon. But the king had supreme confidence in the city’s defenses and to show that confidence to all the nobles this feast was being held.
Keeping the waterpots full was something I was called upon to do many times. I was very efficient at the job and could accomplish the task all the while daydreaming about my homeland and its great city, Jerusalem. I had at my disposal a small donkey I called Shazz, but not within earshot of a Babylonian. I would load Shazz with four large waterpots and then make the short walk from the palace to the River Euphrates. There was a walkway next to the river and at one spot steps leading down to the water. After a few trips with buckets, the waterpots were full and I would return to the palace.
One this night, the feasting had just begun when I needed to make my first water run. I loaded Shazz, walked quickly to the Euphrates, then to the walkway and down the steps. But there was something amiss. Normally at this time of the year the river was high and it only took four steps to reach the water. But tonight it took eight steps and only during the dry season would it take eight steps. Whatever it takes, it takes and palace officials were not ones to accept excuses for not accomplishing a task. Once the waterpots were full, I hurried back to the palace. The extra steps had greatly increased the time it took to fill the pots not to mention the extra energy required of me to haul the water up to Shazz.
No sooner had I delivered the full pots when I was called upon to make another trip to the Euphrates. I was not looking forward to the eight down and eight up but upon arriving at the river something made me shake my head in disbelief. It was no longer eight steps down but sixteen. I had never seen the river this low, even during the worst dry season. But it is what it is and I filled the pots.
When I neared the Great Hall, I was amazed at how quiet it was inside. With 1,000 guests it should have been so raucous you would need to shout to be heard by the person next to you. I only heard the palace this quiet when the king was sleeping or going on a royal rampage. My interest was piqued so I peeked inside. What I saw I will not soon forget. There was a hand, just a hand and the fingers were writing on the plaster of the wall and this is what was written: MENĒ, MENĒ, TEKĒL, UPHARSIN.
No one in the hall knew the meaning of the handwriting. However, the queen entered and stated that Daniel, one of my countrymen, could interpret this writing. Daniel was summoned by the king. I wanted to see how this would play out but I heard the call, “Zuriel, more water.”
I grabbed Shazz and headed to the Euphrates. Maybe, if I really hurried, I could be back before Daniel made his entrance.
As I started on my way, I thought about Daniel and the influence he had had on my life. I had heard the story of how King Nebuchadnezzar appointed him chief of the magicians, conjurers, Chaldeans and diviners. This was because God had given Daniel extraordinary knowledge and insight, the ability to interpret dreams, explain enigmas and solve difficult problems. But I knew him because He had introduced me to the God of Israel. When I was eight years old and just beginning my service to the king, I had seen Daniel at various times during the day kneeling, praying and giving thanks to his God. At an opportune time I asked Daniel about this and over several months he had told me the story of his people and mine, from Adam to the present time.
Once to the river I was astonished. The river was mysteriously dry. What could have caused the mighty Euphrates to suddenly stop flowing? I jumped on Shazz and headed to the spot near the Lugalgirra Gate where the river enters the city. I am not sure what I would see but I needed to look.
Once to the Gate I was startled at what was before me. There, using the river bed as a highway, was the Medo-Persian army. They couldn’t breach the walls but they had dammed the river and would soon be marching under those same walls and into the city.
The guards were in the Queen’s Palace celebrating. I was alone on top of the wall but could I sound the alarm? The alarm was a large bell, taller than me and just as wide. From the ceiling two ropes hung down holding a large log which had several handles. Two men would grasp the handles, swing the log away then toward the bell. The sound it made could be heard across the entire city. But it took two men to swing the log and I was but a 10 year old boy.
What could I do? Then I remembered Shazz. I could tie a log handle to Shazz, have him back up then run at the bell. That should sound the alarm and just maybe save the city. With the log tied to Shazz and backed up I took him by the reins then ran forward shouting, “Shazz onward.” But when he got near the bell he abruptly stopped. I thought my arm would separate at the shoulder. Again I backed him up and again urged him forward and again he stopped just short of the bell. In a panic, I grabbed a nearby stick. I didn’t want to whip Shazz but the city was in danger and only Shazz could sound the alarm loud enough to alert the guards in the Queen’s Hall.
As I raised the stick, Shazz looked at me, shook his head as if to say don’t do it—and then he inexplicably spoke. “Remember the writing on the wall.” What! A donkey can’t talk, what was wrong with me. The seriousness of the situation must have affected me in some irrational way. I raised the stick again and again Shazz shook his head and again he said, “Remember the writing on the wall.” Now totally exasperated, I shouted out, “I remember the writing on the wall but I don’t know its interpretation. Only Daniel knows that and what does that have to do with this.”
“Wrong,” replied Shazz. “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob not only knows the interpretation, He caused the words to be written.” “But,” I said, “why can’t you help me save the city?”
Shazz responded, “Because of the writing on the wall. This is what it means. God has numbered Belshazzer’s kingdom and put an end to it. Belshazzer has been weighed on the scales and found deficient. His kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.” I waggled my head in disbelief. Shazz continued, “the army you see marching under the city’s walls is God’s judgment against Belshazzer and you cannot stop that which was decreed from the beginning. Climb on, I am to take you safely out of the city.”
I instantly leapt on Shazz and he went straight to Processional Way, past the Temple of Ninmach, past the Temple of Istar and out the Marduk gate. As we left Babylon behind, I could hear the sounds of a city being conquered. My thoughts turned to Daniel. Would he survive? And if he did, would he be of service to the next king?
The First Between the Lines Story--From John 8 here.
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